Gear shifting mechanism



June 29, 1937. 1 F. PQLACKINGER GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1932 4 Sheets-sheaf 1 3 m 9 4. 4- a w z 5 "m 9 B 3 MI E w 7 f w 3 9 1 8 O9 0 4 w 76 9) 2 n 9 m .H u n u. O mw 1 .4 M w 1 I 1 7 m. 9 1

June 29, 1937.

- GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM Filed June 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v 4 4? F. P. LACKINGER 2,085,665

June 29, 1937, LACKlNGER 2,085,665

GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM k Filed June 1, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J H j 7? I 4-6 79 35 V 36 v 17 Z? 95 47 I I 20 p18 I FY21 0 0. ,5?v

INVENTOR Patented June 29, 1937 t v 2,085,665

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEAR. SHIFTING MECHANISM Frank P. Lackinger, McKees Rocks, Pa. Application June 1, 1932, Serial No. 614,665 9 Claims. (01. 74334)' My invention relates to gear-shifting mecheassume in connection with the parts asshown in anism designed particularly for automobiles, but Fig. 13.

it is applicable to other types of apparatus be- Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the parts sides automobiles. carried by the base I positioned asv they would be It is one object of my invention to provide a in high gear. 5 gear shifting mechanism whose gears are shifted Fig. 16 is a bottom plan View of the plate. 11

by the depression of the clutch pedal. Another and the mechanism carried thereby, the position object is to provide means for shifting progresof the parts on Fig. 16 corresponding to those on sively from neutral into low and then into inter- Fig. 15.

mediate and high and thence, if desired, back into Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing the rela- 0 intermediate and again into high and so on, but tive positions of the parts with the mechanism the gears cannot be progressively shifted back to in high gear.

low. I provide also for the progressive shifting Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan view showingthe from neutral into reverse and low. I also prorelative position of the selector 91 with respect vide for the shifting of the gears into low, which to certain parts cooperating therewith. 5 I call independent low, from'which the gears can Fig. 19 shows aportion of the mechanism innot be shifted except into neutral unless certain cluding the indicating mechanism for the selecselecting devices are moved to a certain position. tor. This view also shows the pedal connections I also provide for shifting the gears into reverse, for shifting the gears. This view also has an whichI call independent reverse, from which the indicator showing the operator in what gear the gears cannot be shifted except into neutral unless mechanism is..

i the said selecting devices are reset for a different Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan View showing the sequence of operations. Other objects relate to means for operating the locking mechanism for details which will be best understood after they the gear-shifting bars.

have been described. Fig..21 is a diagrammatic plan view showing 25 Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. the operative connections between the turret 22 1 is a plan view of my invention, parts being and the gear-shifting bars Land 1.

omitted. On the drawings, I designates a horizontal Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. metal base-plate adapted to form the cover of Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Figs. 1 and 2, parts a gear-transmission case and asupport for the being omitted. other parts of the mechanism constituting this Fig. 4 is a plan view of my invention with the invention. It has the two parallel slots 2 and 3 plate 11 and the mechanism which it carries ree e d g n re y through the thickness thereofmoved. A bar 4 is"s1idab1e longitudinally in the slot 2 5 Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the plate 11 toand has a P 1 above the base-Plate l and a gether with the mechanism carried thereby. portion below t Same, the latter portion having Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the rear end of ly e ew h the gear-Shifting fork 5 for the plate H with certain slots therein, shifting the gears into neutral, intermediate, and i Fig. 7 is a viewcorresponding to Fig. 5 with the i h. The g arin f su shifting is well n w .40 parts in different positions. andI have indicated its presence merely by dot- 4 Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View of the pitman 20. ted lines at'& where only onegear wheel is shown.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the central The bar 1 slides lengthwise in the slot 3 and has portion of my mechanism. portions above and below the base-plate, the part Fig. 10 is a plan View of the turret 22 and of below e b s -pl being ri i with he g arthe operating pawls 55 and 56therefor together t ng fork 8 for s ift ng other gears into neu- 45 with the lever 42. tral, low, and reverse. The latter gears are in- Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the d t d merely y th p s of t gear 9- parts on the upper face of the base I in low gear. e bar 4 as Secured to i s inner face the Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the plate 11 with an le plates t a d H r sp y s a on the parts thereon positioned to correspond with the upper and lower faces of the base-plate to 50 p the position of the parts in Fig. 11. V support and guidethe bar. 4. Similar angle plates Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the parts" and 13 are attached to the inner face of the carried by the base! in reverse gear. .bar 1, these plates being slidable on the respec- Fig. 14 is aobottom plan view of the plate." tive upper and lower faces of. the base-plate! and the mechanism thereon in the position they to support and guide the bar 1. The endof the 55 bar 4 is provided with a pin having the head I4 slidable on the lower face of the base-plate to vertical pivot pin 2| prevent the bar 4 from upward movement. A portion of the outer face of the bar 4 is guided by the angle plate l5 secured to the upper face of the base-plate.

I6 is a horizontal lever having one end pivoted on the pin I1 in the upper edge of the bar 1, while the other'end of the lever lies loosely in the notch I9 in the upper edge of the bar 4. is a horizontal link or pitman which carries the which extends down through the lever I6 and pivotally connects one end of the pitman to the intermediate portion of the lever I 6.

22 is a turret resting on the upper face of the base I and rotatable about a vertical axial center. It has the cylindrical lower portion 23 which turns in a corresponding opening 24 in the horizontal block 25 secured in any desired manner to the upper face of the base I, the extreme lower end of the turrethaving the annular flange 26 turning in a corresponding undercut groove in the bottom of the block for holding the turret in the position described. The upper end of the turret has rigid therewith on its upper face the two upstanding cylindrical studs or crank-pins 21 and 28'at opposite sides of the axial center line of the turret, the upper ends of the studs having, integral therewith, the upstanding oblong lugs 29 and 38 whose lengths are equal to the diameters of the studs and whose ends are rounded so as to be flush with the peripheries of the studs. The sides of the lugs are made by cutting away the opposite sides of the studs so as to form horizontal shoulders 3|, the flat vertical sides of the lugs above the shoulders being between imaginary r This clearance is defined parallel vertical planes at opposite sides of the axial center line of the turret.

The turret is rotatable clockwise or to the right. It has the peripheral grove 32 above the cylindrical part 23 whereby the horizontal flange 33 is left at the upperend thereof. Pins 34, 35, 36 and 31 extend through the flange 33 and across the groove 32 and into "the cylindrical part 23.

The flange 33 is recessed between the pins 34 and '35 to form a clearance for the lug I33 on the pawl 56 to be described hereinafter. The clearance has'two faces 38 and 39. The face 38 begins at the left laterally beyond the pin 34 and extends inwardly and towardthe right. It merges at its right-hand end into the outwardly extending face 39 which curves up to the left of the pin 35 and connects with the arc-shaped periphery or cam surface of the flange 33 between the pins 35 and 36. a The flange 33 is cut away between the pins 38 and 31 diametrically opposite the cut away portion thereof which is between the pins 34 and 35, so as to form a second clearance for the lug I337.

Yw'hich correspond respectively to thejfaces 38 the pivot 43 and having the arm 44 arranged to 'of'the spring 46,

and 39. The pins 34 to 31 are arranged at the corners of an imaginary square.

42 isa horizontal bell-crank lever pivoted on engage simultaneously any two consecutive ones of the pins 34 to 31 so'as to cause the turret 22 to come to rest at any one of the four positions determined by which pair of the pins 34 to 31 is engaged by the arm. Theremaining arm 45 of the horizontal lever 42 is connected to one end the other end being attached to by the faces 40 and 4| the lever 41 pivoted on the pin 48 carried by the 7sbase|.-j- 7 49 is a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the pivot 58 mounted on the supplemental base 5| bolted to the base I. The long arm 52 of the lever 49 extends diagonally outwardly and terminates somewhat beyond the turret 22 and at the right thereof. The outer end of the arm 52 carries the pins 53 and 54 to which the respective pawls 55 and. 56 lying across the upper face of the rear portion of the base I are pivoted, the pawl 56 lying between the pawl 55 and the turret 22. The outer edge ofthe pawl 56 is in sliding contact with the inner edge of the pawl 55. The end of the lever 41 not carried by the pin 48 engages the outer edge of the pawl 55 so that due to the spring 46 the lever 41 will yieldingly press the inner. edge of the pawl against one of the pins 34 to 31 that stands opposite the pawl 56 and adjacent thereto.

The remaining arm 59 of the bell-crank lever 49 is provided with the swivel connection 60 pivoted to the arm by the pin 6|. The free end of the swivel is connected in any preferred manner to the clutch pedal 62 so that when the latter is pressed a predetermined distance, it will swing the bell-crank lever 49 clockwise and cause one or both of the hooks 51 and 58 to engage certain ones of the ratchet pins 34, 35, 36 and 31 and cause the turret to rotate, as will be explained.

The pedal 62 may be pivoted at its lower end as at 63 while the link 64 connects the swivel 66 to the pivot 65 intermediate of the ends of the pedal. When the pedal is pressed forwardly, that is toward the bottom of Fig. 19, the link 64 causes the bell-crank lever 49 to rock clockwise. The lever 49 is caused to return or rock anticlockwise by the usual clutch pedal spring 66. I The horizontal edges of the angle plates I8 and I2 have the locking notches 61 and 68 which are directly opposite each other when the bars 4 and 1 are as shown in Fig. 4 where they are set for holding the gears in neutral. The horizontal locking bar 69 is arranged at right angles to the adjacent edges of the angle plates I0 and I2 and is operated by the arm of the U-shaped lever 1|. This arm on which the lower end of the pivot 2| .rests lies in a notch in the upper face of the locking bar 89. The arm 10 lies beneath the pitman and has a tongue 18 which extends through the slot 12 in the base I and rides on the under side of the base. The lever 1| is pivoted on the pin'13. The other arm 14 of the lever 1I extends upwardly and then laterally as shown in Figs. 2 and 20, and then forwardly or toward the lower end of Fig. 4, parallel with the arm 19. The arm 14 has the upstanding pin or pivot 15.

rigid with the base I. base I and above it is A plate 11 parallel with the secured on the bolts by the nuts 18. A lever 19 has at its forward end the notch or fork 80 normally seated on the stud 8| pendent from the plate 11. The lever 19 carries two studs or pins 82 and 83 which project up into the slots 84 and 85 respectively in the plate 11. The lever has longitudinally thereof the slot 86 in which the pin or pivot 81 on the upper face of the pitman rides. The end of the lever 19 opposite the fork 88 is turned into a hooklike member 88 which overlies the plate 11 whose adjacent end is arc-shaped to correspond to the arc-movements of the member 88. The end of the member 88 has pivoted thereto one end of the rod 89 which lies over the 'plate 11 and extends versely of the base lever at certaintimes.

between its sides.

which a selected one of the lugs 89 continues past the pivot and terminates with the nut 94, there being a helical spring around the rod between the pivot 90 and the nut 94 to provide a constant pull on the rod 89 and the lever 19 in order to cause the lever to be automatically moved to one limit or the other after it passes its central position. The mechanism just described forms an automatic over-throw device to shift thelever 19 and, accordingly, the pitman 20 laterally so that the end 96 of the pitman carrying the pin 81 may be thrown so. as to lie over either the stud 21 or the stud 28.

A horizontal longitudinally slidable selector 91 having the longitudinal slot 98 is guided trans- I by the headed studs 99 positioned in the slot and carried by the plate 11. The selector 91 has at its ends and facing the pins 82 and 83 the two clearances I00 and IOI for the said pins, these rests each being long enough to 20 clear both pins at once,,at which timethey allow the lever to rest on the pin 8|. They are alined with each other and are shown at right angles with the bars 4 and 1. A rest I02 is carried by the selector 91 between the clearances I00 and It is on the edge of the selector facing the pins 82 and 83 and is sufficiently long to accommodate both pins at the same time, as shown on Fig. l. r

e selector 91 is slid longitudinally by the link I04 and the other end to one arm of the bellcrank lever I05 pivoted at I06. The other arm of the lever I05 is pivoted to the link I01 which is pivoted to one arm of the bell-crank lever I08 pivoted at I09, the other arm being pivoted at IIO to the arm III carried by the rod .II2 arranged axially in the steering post I I3. A pointer H6 is carried by the rod II2 over the steering wheel I I5. The pointer sweeps over the indicator -.!I1 on the steering wheel. H8, H9, I20, I2I and I22 show on the indicator I I6 the positions of the pointer when the mechanism. is set for the shifting of the gears as hereinafter specified.

A longitudinally-sliding lever I23 lies adjacent 45 to the forward end of the plate 11 and has at one end the hook I24 which embraces the extension 93. The lever has the pendent pin I30 which is arrangedto slide in contact with the forward edge I25 of the plate 11 and acts as a pivot for the The lever lies at that side of the selector 91 which faces the member 9 I. It has the lug I20 which is carried by the hooked end I24, the lug lying in the plane of the selector and rearwardly thereof.

The lever I23 has a slot I21 for the pin 15. The end of the lever I23 adjacent to the pin 15 turns downwardly and then inwardly, the inner end having the cam i4 28 which may stand in the path of the roller I8 when the bar 1 moves forwardly 60 toward the lower end of Fig. l.

The member 9| has the vertical pin I29 on which the edge of the lever I23 rests, the spring 95 acting on the member 9I to urge the lever I23 toward the selector 91 and press the pin I30 on the lever I23 against the adjacent edge I25 of the plate 11.

The lower face of the end 96 of the pitman 20 has the transverse recess or groove I32 whose width is such as to receive either stud 21 or 28 The upper end of the slot has the four pendent bosses or lugs I33 whose height is about equal to the height of the lugs 29 and 30. The lugs I33 are at the corners of an imaginary rectangle and provide recesses I34 and I35 into 29 and 30 may I03 which has one end pivoted to the selector at bar 69 is in the notch 61 rotate the turret enter to prevent the pitman from lateral movement independently of that lug. As the pitman swings on its pivot 2|, its groove may enclose either stud 21 or 28, or the link may occupya central position in which both studs are partially within the groove, I32, so that the turret is then locked from rotation.

Figs. 1, 4, and 5 show the positions of the parts of the mechanism when in locked neutral, the bars 4 and 1 being in their central positions, the locking bar 69 being engagedin the locking notch 91 for the bar 4, due. to the rearward pressure exerted by the spring 95on the pin I29, which pressure rocks the lever I23 clockwise on its pivot I30 and causes the Ushaped lever to rock clockwise,

Figs. 1, 4, and 5, whereupon the rest I02 on the selector engaged the pins 82 and 83 and pushed the lever 19 rearwardly, the pins both being supported by that rest against which they are urged by the spring 95 acting through the rod 89. The parts of the mechanism are now in locked neutral position as shown. The turret is locked by the pitman, and the pitman is locked by the pin 81 in the slot 86 of the lever 19. The lever 1'9 is locked because both pins 82 and 83 are supported at opposite sides of its center by the rest I02.

In order to set the mechanism so that it can be progressively thrown into low. intermediate, and high, the pointer IE6 is moved to the indication I I8 for high whereby the selector 91 is pushed so to bring the clearance IOI opposite the pins 82. and .83. As the pin 83 slides from the rest I02 to the clearance IOI during this movement, the overthrow lever 19 is swung clockwise by the action'of the spring 95 which swings the pitman 20 from its central position so that its groove I32 centrally embraces the stud 28'. At this time the fork-carrying bars 4 and 1 are in their central or neutral positions as shown in Fig. 1. The locking and locks the bar 4, preventing the throwing of the gears into intermediate and high.

If now the pedal 62 is pushed down, the bellcrank lever 49 will be swung, clockwise pulling the pawls 55 and 56 ,tothe right. The hook 58 will not engage the ratchet pin 34 because the lug I33 on the upper side of the hook 58 engages the flange 33 and forces the pawls outwardly against the pressure of the spring 46. The hook 58 passes over the pin 34 and itslug I33 slides down in the clearance, as shown in Fig. 10. As thehook 58 moves inwardly, the pawl 55 moves to theposition shown in Fig. 10. Continued pressure on the pedal causes the hook 51 to engage the pin 34 and 22 90, so that the lugs 29 and 30 will stand at right angles to their starting positions, shown in Fig. 10. As the turret turns, the stud 28 and the lug 30 turn in the center of the groove I32 in the pitman 20 until the lug 30 is in the recesses I34 and I35 where the stud 28 is locked in the link and cannot escape to the right or left. As the stud 28 rotated clockwise it pushed the pitman 20 along with it, the pitman 29 acting on the lever I6 tomove the end connected to the bar 1 toward the lower end of Fig. 4 or the forward end of the base I. The end of the lever I6 connected with the bar 4 becomes the pivot on which the lever I6 turns.

When the turret 22 has turned as explained above, the parts are as in Figs. 11 and 12, the bar [coming to rest at the forward end of the slot 3.

' gages the cm p and pushed This mechanism is'now set in low: Whenthe bar 1 is moved as just described, the roller I8 en- I28 on the lever I23 which is slid thereby to the right so that the lug I26 rides upon onto the rest I36 on the opposite side of the slot 98 from the clearance II, as shown in Fig. 18. The lug is now seated in a notch I31 in the rest I36 to hold the selector 91 and the lever I23 in the position shown. The lug I 26 now becomes the fulcrum of the lever I23 so that the pressure of the spring 95 is transmitted to the lever I23 through the'pin I 29 which is between the lug or fulcrum I 26 and the pivot 15 between the levers H and I23. Pressure is now exerted on the lever 1| tending to rock it anticlockwise and cause the locking bar 69 to be pulled out of the notch 61 into the notch 68. However, the bar 69 is not yet opposite the notch 68. The pitman 20 is in its central position which through the pin;81 and the slot 86 causes the lever 19 and the rod 89 to be in their intermediate positions.

When the pedal 62 is released the'lever 49 will turn anticlockwise and come to rest as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

If now the pedal be again pressed down, the hook 58 first engages the rachet pin 31 which 7 now occupies the position taken by the pin 34 in I26 rode to the rest I36, forces the Fig. 10 and rotates the turret 22 90 which reverses the positions of the studs 21 and 28 from bar 69, which under the pressure of the spring 95, which had its tension increased when the lug lever1l to ment with the ratchet pin 36 which now occupies the position of the pin 34 in Fig. 10. The hook 51 rotates the turret another 90, the pin 36 then taking the place of the pin 35 in Fig. 10. This movement of the turret 22 causes the stud 28 to pull the pitman 20 rearwardly. The pitman acting on the lever I6 which now has itsfulcrum on the pin I1 pulls the bar 4 to the rear end of the slot 2, thus throwing the mechanism into interr the hook 51 engages the pin 34 mediate, as shown in Fig. 21.. The pitman 20' and the overthrow rod 89 are in their intermediate positions.

Upon operating the pedalragaini the hook 58 engages the ratchet p1n35 and rotates the turret completion of the stroke of the pedal, whereby and rotates the which causes the stud 28 to forwardly, the pitman acting on its pivot I1 and move the the end of the. slot 2. The

turret another 90 push the pitman 20 to rock the lever I6 bar 4 forwardly to apparatus is now thrown into high, the parts being as shown in Figs. 15 to 18.

The bar 4 does not travel so far .when throwing the fork into high as the bars 4 and 1 travel when throwing the forks into intermediate. As the lever I6 is given the same travel by the action of .the studs 21 and 28 whether the mechanism goes ,into high or intermediate, I provide the lever I6 with a pin I38 projecting horizontally beyond the end of the lever I6 which rides in the notchIS in 7 high and intermediate be shifted into high by the V is successively pressed to its the bar 4. This pin rides in the slot I39 in the angle-plate I5. When the lever I6 has pushed the bar 4 to its forward limit where the mechanism is in high, the lever I6 must still travel its usual stroke. Accordingly, the pin I38 engages the upwardly inclined portion I40 of the slot which lifts the lever I6 out of the notch I9 in the bar 4 and allows the lever I6 to make a full strokewithout any effect on the bar 4. The pin rides up into the horizontal portion I H of the slot and comes to rest against the stop I 42 on the bar 4.

When the pedal is again pressed, the pawls 56 and 55 successively throw the mechanism into neutral and intermediate, the hooks 58 and 51 successively engaging ratchet pins 31 and 36 to rotate the turret 180, bringing the stud 28 rearwardly thus shoving the pitman 20 and the lever I6 rearwardly, whereby the bar 4 is moved to the rear end of the slot 2. Upon pressing the pedal a full stroke, the stud 28 moves forwardly and causes the bar 4 to move to the forward end of the slot, thus putting the mechanism again into high. As long as the selector 91 remains as in Fig. 18 and the pointer II6 remains at the indication II8, successive full strokes of the pedal will shift the mechanism back and forth between only.

In order to shift from intermediate to low, the pointer H6 is moved from the indication II8 to the indication I22,

is soslid, the rest I36 leaves the lug I26, allowing the lever I23 to shift its fulcrum to the pin I30 which rides on the forward edge of the plate 11. As the fulcrum is between the pin I 29 and the pin 15, the spring 95 causes the lever I23 to turn slightly clockwise, the slot I21 in the lever I 23 rocking the lever 1I slightly clockwise. The lever 1I cannot rock a full stroke because the locking bar 69 is against the edge of the angle plate I0, but the spring 95 causing a yielding pressure on the bar 69, which will move it into the when the bar 4 moves forwardly to its central position which will occur when the pedal is next depressed suificiently to cause the pawl 56 to rotate the turret another the bar 4 moving forwardly and placing the notch 61 opposite the locking bar 69, whereupon the latter snaps into that notch owing to the tension I of the spring 95.

At this instant the as indicated therein. pedal is completed, the causing the stud I28 to the lever I6 forwardly, the latter turning in the notch I9 as a pivotal point. The bar 1 being free is moved forwardly to the forward end of the slot 3. The apparatus is now in low gear.

If the pedal is now pushed forwardly the hook 58 will rotate the turret to bring the stud 28 up so as to stand at the left of the stud 21, so that the mechanism is in neutral as it always is when the studs are arranged transversely of the pitman, as in Figs. 4 and 10. When the pedal is pressed further to its limit, the hook 51 rotates the turret 90 to cause the stud 28 to move the pitman 20, the lever I6 and the bar 1 rearwardly with its shifting fork 8, whereupon the mechanism is shifted into reverse.

parts shown on Fig. 7 are When the stroke of the pawl 55 rotates the turret limit, the hooks will rotate the turret by steps causing the stud 28 through the pitman 20 and the lever I5 to alternately throw the mechanism into low and reverse. Inorder to set the mechanism in neutral, the

push the pitman 20 and As long as the pedal pedal is pushed part-way down to cause the'hook 58 to rotate the turret so as to bring the studs 21 and 28 transversely of the "pitman. Obviously, the pitman moves forwardly and causes the shifting bar 1 and its fork 8 to move to their middle or neutral position.

In order to set the mechanism in what I- call independent low, thepointer H6 is movedto the indication II 9 which causes the'selector 91' to moveto the right until thepin 82 is on the rest I02, the pin 83 remainingat the face of the inclination I43 which connects the clearance WI and the rest I02. 7

The lever 19 is therefore inclined to the right and the pitman is also centered over the stud 28 which stands at the right of the stud 21. The

lever 19 was moved rearwardly slightly by the action of the inclination I43; The pin 82' now becomes the fulcrum of this lever in'place of the pin 8 I. The overthrow rod 89 under the action of thespring 95 holds the lever 19 to the right because the rod acts on the lever at the right of its present fulcrum 82.

' It is to benotedthat the operation of the mechanism so far described a complete rotation of the turret causes the pin 81 on the end 96 ofthe pitman to travel in a complete circular path. The pin is extended up above the lever 19 and travels in the circular path I'45j in the lower'face of the plate 1. Diametrically-opposite sides of the path I45 are connected by the cross-over or connector path I46 which is transverse of the pitman to permit the pin 81 to travel freely one way or the other through the same, at which time the mechanism is in neutral.

If the pedal is now pressed, the pawl55'engages the ratchet pin 34 and rotates the turret 90.

The stud 28 is moved by the pawl 55 forwardly or arcuately to the right 90, causing the shifting bar 1 to be moved to itsforwar'd limit or into low,

as shown in Fig. 11, and the parts are now as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The lever 19 was rocked to the left as the pin moved rearwardly as just described, causing the pin 83 to be lifted above the clearance MI. The lever 19 is substantially in its central position as shown in full lines in Fig. 12 with the pin 81 in it's forward position. In case it is desired to throw the mechanism into neutral, it can be done merely by 0 pressing'the pedalsufficiently to cause the pawl 56 to turn the turret 22 90, and bring both the studs 21 and 28 into alinement with the groove I32 in the pitman. During this movement the pitman was moved rearwardly in the path 145-,

5 or arcuately to the right on Fig.,12 which shows the lower faces of the parts thereon. As the pin 81 travels out in the path I45 it swings the lever 19 to the left (or right onFig'. 12). Finally the pin 81 comes into line with the cross-over path 0 I46 whereupon this lever quickly snaps tothe right (left on Fig. 12) under the influence of the overthrow spring 95 which has been. compressed as the lever swung on its pin or fulcrum 82, the lever taking the position shown in. dotted lines 5 just before it is snapped back to the right. The

movement of the pin 81 to the right moved the end 96 of the pitman from cooperation with the stud 28 into cooperation with the stud 21 which now has the position occupied by the stud 28 before the pedal was actuated the lasttime. The

mechanism is now in neutral. The next or further operation of the pedal will duplicate the sequence of steps'iust described, the pitmanworb;

5 ing with the studs 21 and 28" alternately. As

these studs take the same paths, it follows that the sequence of steps taken will be the same in either case.

To set the mechanism into what I call independent reverse, in which the operation of the pedalcan effect nothing except shifting into reverse and neutral, the pointer H6 is moved to the indication I2 I which shoves the selector to the left so that the pin 83 is on the rest I02 and the pin 82 is above the clearance I00 at the base of the incline I44 which connects the clearance I00 and the rest I02. The lever 19 is still off the pin 82 and has the pin 83 as its fulcrum. The lever 19 1s inclined to the left as the overthrow spring 95 is exerting its pull thereon at the left of its fulcrum pin 83.

If the pedal is now depressed, the pitman which embraces the left-hand stud or crank-pin will move rearwardly, causing the lever I6 to pull the shifting bar 1 to its rear limit as shown in Fig. 13 which shows the position of the parts shown thereon. Fig. 14 shows the position of the under parts therein corresponding to the position of cooperating parts in Fig. 13; The pin 81 is now at its rearmost position and has moved the lever 19 to its central position as shown in full lines. The lever turning on. the pin 83 has caused the pin 82 to be lifted and the spring 95 to be compressed further. If now the pedal be again depressed, the turret will be turned 90 by the pawl 58. The pin 81 will move forwardly and clockwise until the pin crosses to the'left in the cross-over path I 36, as shown. in dotted lines inFig 14, whereupon the lever 19 snaps to the right, the pin 81 traveling through the path I46; Atthattime the pitman left the stud which moved it forwardly andswung to the right and embraced the other stud. The mechanism is now in neutral. Every time the pedal is compressed the mechanism will be successively thrown into reverse and neutral only.

On-Fig. 19, I show the indicator l41havingthe legend, high, low, neut, rev, and interm, the last three items meaning respectively'neutral, reverse, and intermediate. I48 is a cable having one end attached to the pin I49 on the lever I6 and the other end tothe pointer I59 arranged to travel along thesaid items of the legend. When the lever is as in Fig. 4, the mechanism is in neutral and thelever is in its central position. Accordingly, the length of the cable I48 is such thatthe pointer I50 stands at the item neut," as shown on Fig. 19. When the mechanism is in high, thebar 4 is at the forwardend of the slot 2, which pushes the'cable I48 forwardly so that the pointer I50 stands at high. When the bar 4 is at the rear end of the slot 2, the mechanism is in intermediate and the cable I48 is pulled rearwardly, causing the pointer I50 to stand at interm. The pin I49 being nearer to the bar 4 than to the bar 1 has a longer travel when the bar 4 is actuated to secure high and intermediate than it has when the bar 1 is actuated to secure low and reverse. In the former case the lever l6 rocks on the pivot I1 and in the latter casein the notch I9. Accordingly, when the bar 1 is shifted to the forwardend of the slot 3, the mechanism is in low and the pointer I50 points to low which is between high and neut. When the bar 1 is shifted to the rear end of the slot 3, the mechanism is in" reverse and the pointer I50 points torev which is between neu and interm.

When the bars 4 and 1 are in their intermediate positions .atwhich the mechanism is in neutral, 2.

full stroke of the'pedalwill throw the mechanism moving idly while the pawl 55 rotates the turret successive steps.

90. When either bar 4 or 1 is at its limit, which means that the mechanism is set inone of its settings, a" full stroke of the pedal causes the setting to be shifted to another setting. During this shift, the pawl 56 throws the mechanism into neutral while the pawl 55 continues the shift to efiect the new gear setting. 7

The operation of the mechanism has been described with the turret as in Figs. 4 and 10, that is, with the ratchet pins 34 and 35 positioned rearwardly of the pins 36 and 31. It is readily seen that the operation would be the same if it had started with the pins 36 and 3'! in the positions of the pins 34 and 35. However, the pitman 20 would have cooperated with the of the stud 28.

The pawl 56 may be omitted and its function may be performed by the pawl 55. The pedal would be depressed twice to shift from one gear setting to another.

I claim:

1. In a gear-shifting mechanism for automobiles, a pair of longitudinally movable bars each carrying a gear-shifting fork; means for releasably locking one or' the other of the two bars in its intermediate position, an operating lever having its ends respectively pivotally connected to the bars for moving the bars longitudinally, a pitman having one end pivoted to the lever intermediate of its ends, a rotary turret having diametrically-opposite crank-pins, means carried stud 21 instead by the remaining end of the pitman for confraction to; one or the other of the crank-pins to give reciprocatory movement to the pitman, the operating lever and the unlocked bar, and means for rotating the turret to effect such reciprocatory movements said means operating upon 'each actuationthereof to rotate the turret through two 2. In a gear-shiftingmechanism for automobiles, a pairof longitudinally movable bars each carrying a gear-shifting fork, means for releasably locking one or the other of the two bars in its intermediate position, an operating lever having its ends respectively pivotally connected to the bars for moving the bars longitudinally, a pitman having one end pivoted to the lever intermediate of its-ends, a rotary turret having diametrically-opposite crank-pins, means carried by theremaining end of the pitman for connection to one or the otherof the crank-pins ,to give reciprocatory movement to the pitman,

the operating lever and the unlocked bar, means ,for rotating the turret to effect such reciprocatory movements, said means operating upon each actuation thereof to rotate the turret through two successive steps, and means for selecting which crank-pin is to be connected to the pitman, whereby the direction of the reciprocations may be controlled. i

3. In a gear-shifting mechanism for automobiles, a pair of longitudinallymovable bars each carrying a gear-shifting fork, means for releasably'locking one or the other of the two bars in itsintermediate position, an operating lever having its ends respectively pivotally connected to the bars for moving the bars longitudinally, a pitman having-one end pivoted to the lever intermediate of its ends, a rotary turret having diametrically-oppositecrank-pins, means carried by the remaining end of the pitman for connection to one or the other of the crank-pins to give reciprocatory movement to the pitman,

the operating lever and the unlocked bar, and means for rotating the turret to effect such reciprocatory movements, said means operating upon each. actuation thereof to rotate the turret through two successive steps, and means for selecting which crank-pin is to be connected to the pitman, whereby the direction of the reciprocations may be controlled, and whereby the pitman may interlock with both crank-pins to prevent the rotation of the turret when the bars are in their intermediate positions.

4. In a gear shifting mechanism, the combination with a pair of fork members, one of said members being arranged to mesh the reverse gears or the low gears and the other member arranged to mesh the intermediate gears or the high gears of the mechanism and means for locking one of said fork members against movement, of an operating lever arranged to move and having its ends in direct pivotal connection with the fork members, and clutch-controlled means for moving the unlocked forked member by a complete forward movement of the clutch pedal to shift from one gear into the next gear.

5. In a gear shifting mechanism, the combination with a pair of fork members, one of said members being arranged to mesh the reverse by a complete forward movement of the clutch pedal to shift from one gear into the next gear.

6. In a gear shifting mechanism, the combination with a pair of fork members, one of said members being arranged to mesh the reverse gears or the low gears and the other member arranged to mesh the intermediate gears or the high gears of the mechanism and means for locking one of said fork members against movement, of an operating lever arranged to move and having its ends in direct pivotal connection with thefork members, and "a clutch-controlled pitman pivotally connected to the lever intermediate of its ends for moving the unlocked forked member by a complete forward movement of the clutch pedal to shift from one gear into the next gear.

7. In agear shifting mechanism, the combination witha pairof fork members arranged to shift the gears in the mechanism, of an operating lever having its ends directly pivotally connected to the fork members for imparting motion thereto, a clutch-controlled pitman having one end pivoted to the lever intermediate of its ends for selectively moving either forked member by a single movement of the clutch pedal from one gear into the next gear, by operation of the clutch pedal in one direction to move one of said forked members out of one gear into neutral and by continued movement in the same direction into another gear, and selector means arranged to control the pitman for selecting the desired gear to be shifted by either fork member.

8. In a speed control device for automobiles, gear shifting mechanism, a rotary turret, aunitary member connecting the turret and the gear shifting mechanism for operating the latter, and means effective by a single continuous movement in one direction to rotate the turret and actuate said unitary member to shift from one gear into the next gear.

9. In a speed control device for automobiles,

gear shifting mechanism, means comprising a turret having a single member for controlling the actuation of said mechanism, and means effective by a single continuous movement in one direction to operate said controlling means to effect actuation of the gear shifting mechanism to shift from one gear into the next gear.

FRANK P. LACKINGER. 

